Hange Zoe never met a problem they could not strap a tank to. The world of Attack on Titan runs on improvised tech: thunder spears, signal flares, capture nets, sound based titan lures, and basement contraptions nobody is supposed to know about. This generator rolls one of those devices, complete with inventor, intended use, current prototype stage, the test that almost killed someone, and the regulation it quietly violates.
Cannons and ODM gear get the credit, but the war is won by oddities: a flare gun with three new colors, a net thrown from a wagon, a steam vent rigged to flush a titan out of a treeline. This generator gives you one of those oddities at a time, designed to slot into a Survey Corps lab, a Garrison workshop, or a back room in the Underground where no officer ever visits.
What each device entry contains
Device name, often a soldier's nickname rather than the official one.
Inventor or team, with one sentence on their reputation.
Intended target: pure titan, abnormal, shifter, human, or structural.
How it works, in plain terms a scout could explain to a recruit.
Current prototype stage: napkin sketch, bench model, field tested, mass issued.
The accident in its development log.
The rule, treaty, or order it bends or breaks.
Story uses
Drop a device into a chapter as the only reason a squad survives, then make them justify it to a furious Military Police inspector the next morning. Use the accident as a flashback. Use the broken rule as the wedge that splits a command staff. For longer arcs, let one device evolve across three generations of prototype, each one safer and somehow sadder than the last.
Tone
Outputs sit between grounded military engineering and Hange style mad science. Nothing crosses into outright fantasy. If a result feels too clean, reroll until it has the small ugly detail that makes it real, like a leaking valve, a smell of burnt hair, or a lever that only works if you punch it.
Invent a Special Device
The Special Device Generator helps you imagine rare or experimental tech used to fight Titans-like “Titan vocal mimic devices” or “Deployable scanning orbs.” Perfect for missions, upgrades, or plot-driving inventions.
What need does this device fulfill-detection, control, distraction, healing?
Is it handheld, mounted, worn, or environmental?
What risks or limits come with using it?
Is it legal, black-market, or state secret?
Who created it-a genius, a lab, or a rogue engineer?
Frequently Asked Questions
Use this generator to add high-concept tech to your AOT scenarios.
What are special devices?
They’re rare or prototype technologies created for specific tactical or narrative purposes.
Are these gadgets grounded in AOT tech?
Yes-they’re speculative but fit the steampunk-punk science of the setting.
Can I invent how they work?
Absolutely-use them as inspiration and expand on their design in your story or campaign.
How do I assign these in RPGs?
Treat them as rare items with unique abilities, requiring rolls, charges, or usage conditions.
Do these need a backstory?
They can! A device’s creator, past mission, or malfunction could become a plot arc of its own.
What are good special devices (Attack on Titan)?
There's thousands of random special devices (Attack on Titan) in this generator. Here are some samples to start:
Magnetic grapnel retriever for recovering lost hooks
Rapid-heal medical pod treating injured pilots mid-battle
Thermal reactive net coils tightening on warm nape contact
Titan vocal mimic device to pacify Abnormal Titans
High-shield energy bubble device repelling small Titans temporarily
About the creator
All idea generators and writing tools on The Story Shack are carefully crafted by storyteller and developer Martin Hooijmans. During the day I work on tech solutions. In my free hours I love diving into stories, be it reading, writing, gaming, roleplaying, you name it, I probably enjoy it. The Story Shack is my way of giving back to the global storytelling community. It's a huge creative outlet where I love bringing my ideas to life. Thanks for coming by, and if you enjoyed this tool, make sure you check out a few more!
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